Fire extinguisher cabinet

ABSTRACT

An open front elongated cabinet has an elongated breakable front panel covering the open front which must be broken during emergency conditions to gain access to a fire extinguisher contained within the cabinet. The cabinet is provided with spaced guideways into which the the breakable panel member is slidably inserted or removed in a direction transversely of the longitudinal dimension of the panel member during periodic checking and/or replacement of the fire extinguisher. The cabinet is formed to limit movement of the panel member along the guideway in one direction and a removable closure member is positioned in a closure-forming position to prevent removal of the panel member in an opposite direction. A lock secures the closure member in place to render the cabinet tamper proof and to prevent the unauthorized removal or theft of the fire extinguisher.

United States Patent [191 Fudge [45'] Dec. 24, 1974 [5 FIRE EXTINGUISHERCABINET Primary Examiner-William I. Price 75 I W ll L. 1 vemor r FudgeMmneapohs Assistant Examiner-Allan N. Shoap Attorney, Agent, orFirmMerchant, Gould, Smith & [73] A'ssignee: Larsens ManufacturingCompany, Ed n Minneapolis, Minn.

[21] Appl' 394738 An open front elongated cabinet has an elongated Ibreakable front panel covering the open front which [52] U.S. Cl 220/82R, 49/463, 52/470, must be broken during emergency conditions to gain70/95, 220/41, 220/55-L, 292/DIG. 45, access to a fire extinguishercontainedwithin the cabi- 292/DIG. 46 net. The cabinet is provided withspaced guideways [51] Int. Cl ..B65d 25/54, 865d 43/12 into which thethe breakable panel member is slidably [58] Field of Search 220/82, 41,55 L; 70/95; inserted or removed in a direction transversely of the292/259, DIG. 45, DIG. 46; 312/138, 330; longitudinal dimension of thepanel member during 49/466, 463, 465; 52/470,471, 127, 288 periodicchecking and/or replacement of the fire extinguisher, The cabinet isformed to limit movement of [S6] References Cited the panel member alongthe guideway in one direction UNITED STATES PATENTS and a removableclosure member is positioned in a 182'3 02o .9/1931 Axe V 52/127closure-forming position to prevent removal of the 2395701 2,1946 Rpanel member in an opposite direction. A lock secures 2:558:599 6/1951Wiles 220/41 the Closure member in Place t0 render the Cabinet 2,727,59612/1955 Smith 49/463 tamper proof and to prevent the unauthorized remova3,587,913 6/1971 Fudge et al. 220/82 R or theft Of the fireextinguisher; I

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 366,0245/1921 Germany 292/259 28b '25 I9 2 \K'II I PM \20 FIREEXTINGUISHERCABINET BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION which often do notprovide adequateprotection against the elements. In addition, the breakable front panelmust be periodically removed to service or replace the fire extinguisherwithin the cabinet. On certain cabinets, this is accomplished byremoving a closure plate mounted on the top wall of the cabinet andallowing the panel to slide downwardly from the bottom wall of thecabinet or by lifting the panel upwardly with respect to the top wall.For example, myprior US. Pat. No. 3,587,913, issued to William L. Fudgeand Lloyd L. Klein, on June 28, 1971, discloses a bottom mountedclosure, platewhich permits removal of a breakable front panelvertically downwardly through the bottom.

wall of a fire extinguisher cabinet. On manyoccasions, this operationresults in the panel being inadvertently dropped with the possibilityof. accidental breakage of the panel and possible injury to theindividual servicing the fire extinguisher. Since thelongitudinal'dimension of such cabinets are normally verticallyoriented, removal of the panel member in a vertical direction generallyrequires considerable clearance inthe direction in which the panelmember is removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With these problems in mind, a cabinet for fireextinguishers is provided which is formed from an elongated, open front,rectangular box having spaced guideways extending in a directiontransversely of the longitudinal dimension of the cabinet along an edgeof a top and bottom wall adjacent the open front. A breakable panelmember, for-closing the open front, is insertable into and removablefrom the guideways transversely of the longitudinal dimension of thepanel member and cabinet. One sidewall limits movement of the panelmember in one direction along the guideways and has an angular edgeportion whichoverlies an adjacent edge of the panel member. A removableclosure member, having-a material thickness dimension somewhat greaterthan that of the cabinet walls, extends substantially between the topand bottom walls and is disposed in a closure forming position to limitmovements of the panel member along the guideways in an oppositedirection. The closure member is cross-sectionally L-shaped and has oneleg disposed in justaposition to the other sidewallv with the other legthereof overlying the adjacent edge of the panel member andthe oppositeends thereof each .received within an adjacent guideway when the closuremember is in the closure forming position. A lock is mounted on the oneleg generally midway between the opposite ends of the closure member forinsertion into an opening formed through the other sidewall adjacent theopen front.

The particular arrangement of the spaced guideways, the angular edgeportion on the one sidewall and the of a fire extinguisher within thecabinet. This not only permits removal of the panel member in a limitedamount of space, with a minimum of difficulty, but since such cabinetsare normally mounted with their longitudinal dimension verticallyoriented, permits removal of the closure member substantially withoutfear.

that the panel member will accidentally fall to the ground. An importantconsideration, in cabinets of the general type here, is the cost ofmanufacture; and the present invention provides or improves constructionI which can be economically manufactured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings wherein likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the views; v

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an improved fire extinguisher cabinetconstructed in accordance with the present invention; 7

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof as seen from left to right ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in horizontal section thereof with the'fireextinguisher removed as seen from the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4. is an enlarged view in vertical section as seen from the line4--4 of FIG. 1, portions thereof being broken away; and

FIG. 5 is the greatly enlarged detailed sectional view as seen from theline 5-5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT extending along an edge of eachof the top and bottom walls 15, 16 are each formed from an inwardlyformed angular edge portion 19, rigidly attached to the respective topand bottom wall l5, 16 adjacent the open front of the cabinet 10, and alongitudinally extending flange member 20. Flange members 20 each have acrosssectionally L-shaped configuration including a leg portion 20aspaced inwardly of an adjacent angular edge portion 19 and leg portions20b which are rigidly affixed to respective top and bottom walls 15, 16by spot welding or the like. Each of the leg portions 20a extendparallel to respective edge portions 19 to form the guideways 18. Asshown in the drawings, each of the top and bottom walls l5, 16 areprovided with appropriate angular edge portions 21 for joining (also byspot welding or the like) the top and bottom walls 15,16 to the sidewalls l3, l4 and the back wall 17 so as to form 3 For the purpose ofproviding quick access to a fire extinguisher A during periods ofemergency, there is provided an elongated, breakable, transparent panelI member 25. While such panel members 25 have heretofore been formedfrom a material such as glass, it will may be utilized as long as theircharacteristics are of a somewhat similar nature. to glass orconstruction of such a nature as to permit quick access to the fireextinguisher A during such periods of emergency. Panel member 25 isgenerally planar and slidably insertable into the guideways 18 to closethe open front of the cabinet and prevent unauthorized access to 'ortheft of the fire extinguisher A. Fire extinguisher cabinets of theabove-described type are generally secured to a supporting wallstructure with the longitudinal dimension thereof vertically oriented soas to support the fire extinguisher A in a vertically oriented position,see FIG. 1. Heretofore, fire extinguisher cabinets of the above typehave been constructed so the breakable panel member 25 is eitherslidably removed vertically upwardly through the top wall or verticallydownwardly through the bottom wall 16 for periodic servicing, inspectionor replacement of the fire extinguisher A. In either case, the panelmember -is removed from its position closingthe open front ofthe cabinetalong itslongitudinal dimension, resulting in a requirement forsubstantial clearance adjacent the cabinet 10 in the direction in whichthe panel 25 is to be removed. In the present embodiment, the panel 25is slidably insertable into or removable from the guideways 18 in asideways direction transversely of the longitudinal dimension of thepanel 25 and cabinetlO. Thus, substantially lesser clearance is requiredfor removal of the breakable panel 25 from the cabinet 10 of the presentinvention.

"One of the side walls (side wall 13) is positioned adja- 8 cent theopen front to limit movement of the panel member 25 along the guidewaysl8 in one direction so as to position the panel 25 to close the openfront of the cabinet 10. An angular edge portion 13a is rigidly attachedto the side wall.l3 adjacent the open front so as to overlie an adjacentedge of the panel 25 when the panel 25 is in engagement with the sidewall 13 and closing the. open front'of the cabinet 10. The overlying beappreciated that other materials (i.e., plastics, etc.)

ual servicing the fire extinguisher. Likewise, in a bottom wallmounting, removal of the closure member from the bottom wall oftenresults in the panel accidentally dropping out of the cabinet, againwith the possibility of breakage of the panel and injury totheindividual servicing the fire extinguisher. As can .be seen from thedrawings, the construction of the present cabinet 10 wherein the panelmember 25 is removed from the guideways 18 in a sideways or transversedirection with respect to a vertical longitudinal dimension of thecabinetlO, permits removal of the closuremember 28 fromitsclosure-forming position without the possibility that the panelmember 25 may accidentally drop from the guideways 18. As can been seen,particularly in FIGS.

3-and-5, closure member 28 has an L-shaped cross section with one leg28a thereof disposed in juxtaposition to'tlie other side wall 14 and theother leg 28b'disposed to overlie an adjacent edge of the panel member25 when the closure member 28 is in the closure-forming position ofFIGS. 3 and 5. The other side wall 14 is formed generally midway betweenthe top and bottom walls 15, 16 with a keyhole-shaped opening 29 whichis disposed. generally adjacent the open front of the cabinet 10, for areason to be hereinafter described.

Lock means 30 is mounted on the leg 28a generally midway betweenopposite ends thereof for insertion into the keyhole-shaped opening 29.A rotatable latch member 31 is 'mounted on the lock 30 for rotation intoa position wherein it has lockable engagement with the side wall 14 (seeFIG. 4) to maintain the closure member 28 in the closure-formingposition of FIGS..l-'5. In

formed angular edge portion 14a which is substantially relationship ofthe'angular edge portion 13a, together with the angular edge portions19, serves as protection against the elements entering the cabinet 10when the panel member 25 is in place as well as to protect the panelmember 25 from the accidental displacement.

A removable closure member 28 extends longitudinally substantiallybetween the top and bottom walls l5, 16. The closure member 28' isprovided for limiting movements of the panel 25 along the spacedguideways 18 in an opposite direction to remove the panel 25 from theguideways 18. Heretofore, such'closure mem bers have been associatedwith eitherthe top or bottom wall of such cabinets and have beenconstructed in such-a way as to add unnecessarily to the cost of thesetypes of cabinets. In a top wall mounting, such closure members have notonly not been weatherproofed, but have required the removal of the panelmember from the cabinet along its longitudinal dimension for periinalignment with the leg portions 20a of flange members 20. Flange member14a extends parallel to and in a coincident relationship with theother'leg 28b of the closure member 28 when the closure member 28 is inits closure-forming position. The flange 14a serves to 11. Thisincreased thickness adds substantially to the odic inspection, etc. Thisnot only requires consider- ()5 strength of the closure member 28 andeffectively makes it more difficult to deform the member 28 so as togain unauthorized 'entry into 'the cabinet 10.

What I claim is: 1. In an improved fire extinguisher cabinet comprisa.an. elongated open front rectangular box having spaced side walls andspaced top and bottom walls;

. b. spaced guideway means, extending along an edge of each of said topand bottom 'walls adjacent the open front;

c. an elongated, breakable, transparent panel member for closing theopen front slidably insertable 5 into and removable from said guidewaystransversely of the longitudinal dimension of said panel members andbox;

d. an angular edge portion rigidly attached to one of said side wallsadjacent said open front so as to overlie an adjacent edge of saidpanel, said one side wall limiting movement of said panel member alongsaid guideways in one direction;

e. a removable closure member extending substantially between said topand bottom walls for limiting movement of said panel along said spacedguideways in an opposite direction when in .a closure forming position;

f. said closure member having an L-shaped cross section with one legthereof disposed in justaposition to said other side wall and the otherleg thereof disposed to overlie an adjacent edge of said panel member inthe closure forming position;

' g. the other of said side walls having an opening formed therethroughadjacent said open front and generally midway between said top andbottom walls;

h. lock means mounted on said one leg generally midway between oppositeends thereof for insertion into the opening in said other side wall andhaving a lockable engagement with said other side walls; and

. said other leg portion having opposite end portions .which are eachreceived within an adjacent guideway when said closure member is in theclosure forming position.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said g'uideway means extending alongan edge of each of said top and bottom walls are each formed from aninwardly formed angular edge portion of a respective top and bottom walland a longitudinally extending flange member spaced inwardly from andextending parallel to respective angular edge portions of said top andbottom walls.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said other side wall includes aninwardly formed angular edge portion thicker than that of the materialforming said rectangula'r box.

1. In an improved fire extinguisher cabinet comprising: a. an elongatedopen front rectangular box having spaced side walls and spaced top andbottom walls; b. spaced guideway means, extending along an edge of eachof said top and bottom walls adjacent the open front; c. an elongated,breakable, transparent panel member for closing the open front slidablyinsertable into and removable from said guideways transversely of thelongitudinal dimension of said panel members and box; d. an angular edgeportion rigidly attached to one of said side walls adjacent said openfront so as to overlie an adjacent edge of said panel, said one sidewall limiting movement of said panel member along said guideways in onedirection; e. a removable closure member extending substantially betweensaid top and bottom walls for limiting movement of said panel along saidspaced guideways in an opposite direction when in a closure formingposition; f. said closure member havIng an L-shaped cross section withone leg thereof disposed in justaposition to said other side wall andthe other leg thereof disposed to overlie an adjacent edge of said panelmember in the closure forming position; g. the other of said side wallshaving an opening formed therethrough adjacent said open front andgenerally midway between said top and bottom walls; h. lock meansmounted on said one leg generally midway between opposite ends thereoffor insertion into the opening in said other side wall and having alockable engagement with said other side walls; and i. said other legportion having opposite end portions which are each received within anadjacent guideway when said closure member is in the closure formingposition.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said guideway meansextending along an edge of each of said top and bottom walls are eachformed from an inwardly formed angular edge portion of a respective topand bottom wall and a longitudinally extending flange member spacedinwardly from and extending parallel to respective angular edge portionsof said top and bottom walls.
 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein saidother side wall includes an inwardly formed angular edge portionadjacent said open front, said angular edge portion of said other sidewall being substantially in alignment with said flange members of saidguideway means and inwardly spaced, parallelly extending in a coincidentrelationship with said other leg of said closure member when saidclosure member is in its closure forming position.
 4. The structure ofclaim 1 wherein the thickness of the material forming said closuremember is relatively thicker than that of the material forming saidrectangular box.